Tag Archives: Shepard Fairey

The admiration between Shepard Fairey and Neil Young goes both ways. Mr. Fairey, a longtime fan of the musician, included him in “May Day,” his 2010 show at Deitch Projects portraying cultural heroes of the left. Then Mr. Young, who stages an annual benefit concert for the Bridge School in Northern California, asked Mr. Fairey to create art for an album marking the concert’s 25th anniversary. So the artist wasn’t exactly surprised, he said at the opening of his new show at Pace Prints, when Mr. Young asked him to make a painting representing each song in his new album with Crazy Horse, “Americana.”

What Mr. Fairey didn’t expect was the intensity of Mr. Young’s involvement. For all the tracks, the artist submitted several digital mockups inspired by the narrative (none based on an identifiable original source, he emphasized). Then Mr. Young picked his favorites. Mr. Fairey said he was also surprised to learn that “God Save the Queen” is not just a Sex Pistols song but an old British anthem and the source of the melody for “My Country ’Tis of Thee.” His finished painting depicts the Queen and Betsy Ross sewing a combination of British and American flags; its text reads “God save the land of liberty”— a phrase with both a dual origin and a double meaning. “Neil and I talked about that,” Mr. Fairey said. “They left England, and basically made the same mistakes. In some respect it all blends together.”

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In late July, I began a gallery project and series of street murals in Copenhagen. On Aug. 1, POLITIKEN newspaper published an inaccurate story reporting that I was commissioned and paid by the city of Copenhagen to execute the mural they featured in their article. The mural location in question had a controversial history of clash between the city and the supporters and inhabitants of the Youth House formerly located there. In spite of efforts by myself, my gallery, and the Youth House, to correct the record, media outlets continued to perpetuate the misconception that I had been hired or at least prompted by the city to create my mural at the former Youth House location. An unfortunate chain reaction of events took place that I believe may have been, at least in part, catalyzed by media misinformation that continues to circulate. Below is my attempt to thoroughly illuminate my experience in Copenhagen.

Work by artists Revok and Rime is part of an exhibition at MOCA in Los Angeles. The artist known as Revok is in an L.A. jail on charges related to a graffiti incident.

LOS ANGELES—To the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Revok is a renowned artist whose bright, sprawling work is worthy of display in its latest exhibit.
To the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Revok is Jason Williams, also known as inmate No. 2714221.

Last month, Mr. Williams was sentenced to 180 days in county jail as a result of a probation violation from a graffiti incident, just days after the opening of a major museum exhibit dedicated to “street art” that features his work. Unable to post his $320,000 bail, Mr. Williams sat in jail for four days before the sentencing.

It may be illegal on the street, but inside the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, a new exhibit celebrates the history of graffiti, featuring work by artists like Banksy and Shepard Fairey. WSJ’s Tammy Audi reports.

Law-enforcement officials around the country are prosecuting graffiti artists with harsher sentences than ever, pushing for felony charges, real prison time and restitution payments as they seek to wipe graffiti from the streets. At the same time, the art world and corporations are embracing the form like never before.

Group benefit show to lend a helping hand In Japan.
Artists and Photographers from all over the globe come together to help all those affected by the earthquake, tsunami and now radiation damage in Japan. When we first listed this event, we wanted to keep this as a print based show. After receiving so many emails from people wanting to donate original drawings, we’ve now decided to allow original works on paper.
All artwork will be priced at $200 or less!
This is a rare opportunity where artists lower their standard pricing in order to help those in need.

While LA II, who is best known as a collaborator of Keith Haring, has quietly languished at Riker’s Island prison, Revok’s arrest and subsequent sentencing has been accompanied by a vocal outcry from his comrades and fans, including Shepard Fairey, who issued a poster last week to raise money for his legal defense fund.

The debate about graffiti and street art and its role in a democratic and free society is sure to rage on as the artists associated with the art form continue to make waves by openly challenging vandalism laws. The whole phenomenon is strangely reminiscent of the emergence of hip hop in the 1980s and 90s, when artists (and their handlers) often parlayed criminal charges into more publicity and fame for the artist.

Carmichael Gallery is pleased to announce Martha Cooper: Remix, an expansive group show featuring highlights from Martha Cooper’s photographic archive and works by over 50 artists who have created their own unique interpretations of her iconic, historically significant imagery. There will be an opening reception for the exhibition on Saturday, April 9 from 6 to 8pm with Martha Cooper and several of the participating artists in attendance. The exhibition will run through May 7, 2011.

I just found this at Known Gallery’s Blog. Toy Tokyo and TT-Underground Gallery are hosting a benefit art auction to help the relief efforts for Japan with contributions by Ron English, Shepard Fairey, Ewok, etc. 100% of the proceeds go to GlobalGiving.org, so make sure to pay them a visit! There will also be an Ebay auction site: TT-UndergroundJapanBenefit.
I think it’s wonderful how so many artists use their talent to help other people in need! Props to Toy Tokyo, the artists contributing and also all the other artists who have donated their work to other relief efforts like Jeff McMillan, Joe Hahn, Jean James, Gary Baseman, Mike Shinoda, David Choe, etc…!